For me, the highlight of last weekend was a solo drive through the mountains, at sunrise, just so I could see the Autumn colors. (And, to take my puppy on his first five-mile mountain hike.) Hands down, it’s my favorite time of year. … Inspired by what I saw, I later roped the kids into […]

It’s another cloudy day at the RGB; perfect for a bowl of soup. Morning rain on the bronze fennel. Droplets on the kale. We also have some stuff lying around that need to be used: bag of lentils (purchased last week) chard from the garden (they’re overgrown) lemon # 30 (70 to […]

When I think about college, I often think about 146 Esplanade; the place where I became an adult. It was during this time in my life that I was also addicted to study breaks at The Olive Garden. My druge of choice: bread sticks and zuppa toscana. I had to have it. all. the. time. […]

One of our favorite local haunts is Britta’s Café in Irvine, California. At least twice a month, you can find us there on date nite. In fact, we enjoy this place so much we named our dog after it. And, with a seasonal menu that rotates about six times a year, there’s always something new to try. If […]

The Rustic Garden Bistro blog began in 2009 as a journal of edible projects (recipes). Over time, it has evolved to chronicle our home (backyard garden and chickens), experiences with local restaurants and food suppliers (community), and adventures abroad (travel).